Challenge your students to ENGAGE in the conversation and process; THINK about the ideas, history, structure, and function; and DEBATE the merits of American government and politics in the 21st century.In a storytelling approach that weaves contemporary examples together with historical context, By the People: Debating American Government, Brief Edition, explores the themes and ideas that drive the great debates in American government and politics. It introduces students to big questions like Who governs? How does our system of government work? What does government do? and Who are we? By challenging students with these questions, the text gets them to think about, engage with, and debate the merits of U.S. government and politics.Ideal for professors who prefer a shorter text, By the People, Brief Edition, condenses the content of the comprehensive edition while also preserving its essential insights, organization, and approach. Approximately 20% shorter and less expensive than its parent text, the full-color Brief Edition features a more streamlined narrative, deletes the "Comparing Nations" boxes, and is enhanced by the same extensive support package as the longer edition.

Table of Contents:
PART I. IDEAS AND RIGHTS Chapter 1: Ideas that Shape American Politics The Spirit of American PoliticsWho GovernsHow Does American Politics Work?What Does Government Do?Who Are We?A Nation of IdeasLiberty"The Land of the Free"The Two Sides of LibertyThe Idea of Freedom is Always ChangingWhat Do You Think: Negative Versus Positive LibertySelf-RulePower from the PeopleOne Side of Self-Rule: DemocracyAnother Side of Self-Rule: A RepublicA Mixed SystemLimited GovernmentThe Origins of Limited GovernmentAnd Yet . . . The United States Has a Big GovernmentLimits on Government ActionWhen Ideas Clash: Self-Rule and Limited GovernmentWhat Do You Think: Self-Rule versus Limited Government IndividualismCommunity Versus IndividualismThe Roots of American Individualism: Opportunity and DiscordWho Are We: Individualism and Solidarity?The American DreamSpreading the DreamWhat Do You Think: Individualism versus Solidarity Challenging the DreamEqualityThree Kinds of EqualityHow Much Economic Inequality Is Too Much?Opportunity or Outcome?ReligionStill Religious: A Religious CountrySo Many ReligionsThe Politics of ReligionHow Do Ideas Affect PoliticsIdeas in American CultureThe Ideas in Political InstitutionsCulture of InstitutionsChapter 2: The Constitution The Colonial Roots of the ConstitutionWhy the Colonists RevoltedThe Colonial Complaint: RepresentationThe Conflict Begins with Blood on the FrontierThe Stamp Tax and the First Hints of IndependenceThe Townshend Acts Worsen the ConflictThe Boston Tea PartyRevolution!The Declaration of IndependenceThe Principle: "We Hold These Truths . . . "GrievancesThe First American Government: The Articles of ConfederationThe National GovernmentSome Success . . .. . . And Some ProblemsWinner and LosersThe First Step: Annapolis ConventionWhat Do You Think: Your Advice is Needed SecrecyThe Constitutional ConventionWhat Do You Think: Was Delegate Secrecy Warranted? 1. How Much Power to the People?2. National Government versus State Government3. Big States versus Small States4. The President5. Separation of Powers6. Principle of Which We Were AshamedAn Overview of the ConstitutionPreambleArticle 1: CongressWhat Do You Think: Have We Achieve the Constitution's Goals Today? Article 2: The PresidentWhat Do You Think: Detention of Terrorism Suspects Article 3: The CourtsArticle 4: Relations between the StatesArticle 5: AmendmentsArticle 6: The Law of the LandArticle 7: RatificationThe Missing ArticlesRatificationThe Anti-FederalistsThe FederalistsTwo Strong ArgumentsA Very Close VoteA Popular Surge Propels People into PoliticsChanging the ConstitutionThe Bill of RightsThe Seventeen AmendmentsThe Constitution TodayWhat Do You Think: How Strictly Should We Interpret the Constitution? Chapter 3: Federalism and Nationalism Why Federalism?Choosing FederalismFederalism's AdvantagesThe DisadvantagesThe StakesWhat Do You Think: Preserving Local Values or Continuing a Terrible Injustice? How Federalism WorksThe Constitution Sets the Ground RulesDual FederalismCooperative FederalismNew FederalismBattles over Federalism TodayFederalism and the PartiesWhat Do You Think: Intergovernmental Lobbying, American Style Federalism in the CourtsNationalism, American StyleThe Imagined CommunityAmerica's Weak National GovernmentThe Hidden StateChapter 4: Civil Liberties The Rise of Civil LibertiesCivil Rights and Civil LibertiesThe Slow Rise of RightsPrivacyPenumbras and EmanationsWhat Do You Think: Is There a Right to Privacy? Roe v. WadeSexuality between Consenting AdultsFreedom of ReligionThe Establishment ClauseFree Exercise of ReligionWhat Do You Think: May the Christian Youth Club Meet in School? Freedom of SpeechA Preferred PositionWhat Do You Think: David's Law Political SpeechSymbolic SpeechLimits to Free Speech: Fighting WordsLimited Protection: Student SpeechFreedom of the PressPrior RestraintObscenityLibelThe Right to Bear ArmsA Relic of the Revolution?The Rights of the AccusedAmericans Behind BarsThe Fourth Amendment: Search and SeizureThe Fifth Amendment: Rights at TrialsThe Sixth Amendment: The Right to CounselThe Eighth Amendment: The Death PenaltyWhat Do You Think: End the Death Penalty? Fighting Terrorism and Protecting LibertyChapter 5: The Struggle for Civil Rights Winning Rights: The Political ProcessSeven Steps to Political EqualityHow the Courts Review CasesRace and Civil Rights: Revolt against SlaveryThe Clash over SlaveryDred Scott v. SandfordThe Second American Founding: A New Birth of Freedom?Freedom FailsThe Fight for Racial EqualityTwo Kinds of DiscriminationThe Civil Rights Campaign BeginsThe CourtsThe Civil Rights MovementWhat Do You Think: Would You Have Been a Sixties Protester? Congress and the Civil Rights ActThe End of the Civil Rights EraAffirmative Action in the WorkplaceAffirmative Action in EducationWhere Are We Now?What Do You Think: Higher Education and Affirmative Action GenderSuffrageThe Civil Rights Act of 1964The CourtsProgress-- But How Much?Reproductive PoliticsHispanicsChallenging DiscriminationThe Politics of ImmigrationThe Controversy over LanguagePolitical MobilizationAsian AmericansThe Asian StereotypesWhat Do You Think: Simple Decency? Or Political Correctness Run Amuck? Native AmericansThe Lost Way of LifeIndians and the Federal GovernmentSocial Problems and PoliticsGroups without Special ProtectionPeople with DisabilitiesSexual OrientationPART II. POLITICAL BEHAVIOR Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Participation Measuring Public OpinionPolling 101Do Opinion Surveys Influence Us?Sources of Public OpinionWhat Do You Think: Calling the Election Early? Self-Interest: Voting Our PocketbooksDemographic Effects: From Region to ReligionPartisan EffectsElite InfluenceWars and Other Focusing EventsPublic Opinion in a DemocracyWhat Do You Think: How Do You Participate? Do the People Know What They Want?How Do the People Communicate Their Desires?Do Leaders Respond to the Public?Getting Involved: Electoral, Voluntary, and Political VoiceElectoral ActivitiesCivic VoluntarismPolitical VoiceWhat Do You Think: Volunteer Globally? What Inspires Political Participation?Spurs to Individual ParticipationWhat Discourages Political Participation?Age, Wealth, and EducationAlienationInstitutional BarriersComplacencyShifting Mobilization PatternsGeneration Y and Political ParticipationThe Internet, Social Media, and ParticipationChapter 7: The Media American Media Today: Traditional Formats Are DecliningWhere People Go for NewsNewspaper DeclineRadio Holds SteadyTelevision: From News to InfotainmentWhat Do You Think: Movies That Take a Stand The Rise of the New MediaScenario 1: Rebooting DemocracyScenario 2: More Hype and Danger than Democratic RenaissanceIs the Media Biased?Reporters Are DemocratsProfits Drive the News IndustryDrama Delivers AudiencesSex and ScandalThe Skeptical MediaHow Governments Shape the MediaThe First Amendment Protects Print Media from Government RegulationRegulating BroadcastersProtecting CompetitionHow the Media Shapes PoliticsNews Stories Reinforce Existing BeliefsThe Political AgendaPriming the PublicFraming the IssueThe Media's Electoral ConnectionThe Campaign as DramaCandidate ProfilesWhat Do You Think: Does the Media Enhance Democracy? Chapter 8: Campaigns and Elections How Democratic are American Elections?Frequent and Fixed ElectionsNumber of Elected OfficialsWhat Do You Think: Too Many Elected Positions? Financing Campaigns: The New Inequality?Presidential Campaigns and ElectionsWho Runs for President?Presidential Campaigns Have Three PhasesWinning the NominationWhat Do You Think: Why Iowa and New Hampshire? Organizing the ConventionThe General ElectionWinning Presidential ElectionsCongressional Campaigns and ElectionsCandidates: Who Runs for Congress?The Power of IncumbencyCongressional Election ResultsRedrawing the Lines: The Art of the GerrymanderNonpartisan Districting and Minority RepresentationHow to Run for CongressChapter 9: Interest Groups and Political Parties What Interest Groups DoPublic Advocacy GroupsPrivate Interest GroupsInterest Groups, Representation, and PowerInterest Groups and RepresentationInterest Groups and PowerLobbyist SpendingRegulating Interest GroupsWhat Do You Think: Assessing the Influence of Lobbyists Lobbying the Federal Branches of GovernmentRise of the Issue NetworkIntergovernmental and Reverse LobbyingLobbying the CourtsPolitical Parties and US GovernmentWhat the Parties DoTwo-Party AmericaThird Parties in American PoliticsHow Parties Are OrganizedParty-in-GovernmentParty OrganizationParty in the ElectorateThe Big Party TentsAmerica's Party Systems: Origins and ChangeBeginnings: First Party System (1789-1828)Rise: Second Party System (ca. 1828-1860)War and Reconstruction: Third Party System (1860-1896)Business and Reform: Fourth Party System (1896-1932)Depression and New Deal: Fifth Party System (1933-1972)The Sixth Party System: The Parties at Equal Strength (1972-Present)What Do You Think: Does the 2012 Election Suggest a New Party Period? Party Identification . . . and Ideas Building Party IdentificationThe Power of Party AttachmentWhat Do You Think: Personality and Party Party Competitionand PartisanshipParties Rise AgainCompetition IntensifiesPartisanship and Its DiscontentsWhat Do You Think: Winner Take All What Do You Think: Third Parties What Do You Think: Partisanship PART III. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS Chapter 10: Congress Introducing CongressTwo Houses, Different StylesWhat Do You Think: Senate Filibusters The House and the Senate Have Some Unique RolesCongressional RepresentationWhat Do You Think: Who Really Represents You? Trustees and DelegatesWhat Do You Think: Two Views of Representation Elections: Getting to Congress--and Staying ThereCongressional ElectionsCongress at WorkThe City on the HillMinnows and Whales: Congressional LeadershipCommittees: Workhorses of CongressLegislative Policy MakingThe Importance of the Legislative ProcessDrafting a BillSubmitting the BillCommittee ActionFloor ActionConference CommitteePresidential Action: Separated Powers, Once MoreWhy Is Congress So Unpopular?Partisan Polarization in CongressDivided GovernmentWhat Do You Think: Is a Partisan Congress a Good Thing? Chapter 11: The Presidency Defining the PresidencyThe President's PowersAn Imperial Presidency?A Weak Office?What Presidents DoCommander in ChiefTop DiplomatThe First LegislatorChief BureaucratEconomist in ChiefThe Head of StateParty LeaderThe Bully Pulpit: Introducing IdeasThe Impossible JobPresidential Leadership: Success and Failure in the Oval OfficeManaging the PublicApproval RatingsThe President's Team: A Tour of the White HouseThe Political Solar System: Presidential AppointmentsThe Vice PresidentThe CabinetThe Executive Office of the PresidentThe Heart of Power: The White House Office (WHO)The First SpouseChapter 12: Bureaucracy Bureaucracies in an American DemocracyHow the Bureaucracy GrewThe Bureaucratic ModelBureaucratic PathologiesThe Democratic DilemmaWhat Bureaucracies DoRule MakingImplementationHow the Bureaucracy Is OrganizedThe Cabinet DepartmentsOther AgenciesWho Controls the Federal Bureaucracy?The PeopleThe PresidentCongressInterest GroupsBureaucratic AutonomyDemocracy RevisitedReforming the BureaucracyOpen Up the SystemReinventing GovernmentPrivatizationWhat Do You Think: Should We Privatize More Government Functions? Chapter 13: The Judicial Branch Who Are We? A Nation of Lawsand LawyersEmbracing the Law-- and LawsuitsDeclining trustCourts in American CultureOrganizing the Judicial BranchDivided We RuleState and Local CourtsJudicial SelectionWhat Do You Think: How Should States Select Their Judges? Federal CourtsSpecialized CourtsWhat Do You Think: Identity on the Bench Diversity in the Federal JudiciaryThe Court's RoleJudicial ReviewActivism Versus RestraintThe Judicial ProcessToo Much Power . . . or Still the "Least Dangerous" Branch?The Supreme Court and How It OperatesHearing CasesSelecting Cases: Formal RequirementsConference Sessions and Written DecisionsConfirmation BattlesJudicial Decision Making and ReformThe Role of LawIdeology and PartisanshipCollegiality and Peer PressureInstitutional ConcernsNineteen Cases You Should Know1. Marbury v. Madison (1803)2. McCullogh v. Maryland (1819)3. Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819)4. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857: discussed in Chapter 4)5. Santa Clara Co. v. Southern Pacific Railroad (1886)6. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896: see Chapter 5)7. Lochner v. New York (1905)8. Muller v. Oregon (1908)9. Schenck v. United States (1919: discussed in Chapter 5)10. National Labor Relations Board v. Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation (1937)11. Korematsu v. US (1944)12. Everson v. Board of Education (1947)13. Brown v. Board of Education (1954: discussed in Chapter 2 and Chapter 5)14. Mapp v. Ohio (1961: discussed in Chapter 4)15. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963: see Chapter 5)16. Roe v. Wade (1973: discussed in Chapter 4)17. US v. Nixon (1974)18. Bush v. Gore (2000)19. National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012)What Do You Think: Name another Landmark Case Reforming the JudiciaryIdeas for Reform: More ResourcesTerm LimitsPART IV. POLICYMAKING Chapter 14: Domestic and Foreign Policy Public Policymaking in Five (Not-So-Easy) Stages1. Agenda Setting2. Framing3. Policy Formation4. Policy Implementation5. Policy Evaluation and FeedbackUS Social PolicyWars and Social PolicyOld-Age Insurance: Social SecurityUnemployment BenefitsHealth and Disability: Medicare/MedicaidWhat Do You Think: Should We Reform Social Security and Medicare? The Federal Budget ProcessPresident's Budget ProposalCongressional Budget ResolutionAmerican Foreign Policy GoalsGoal No. 1: SecurityGoal No. 2: ProsperityGoal No. 3: Spreading American IdealsWhat Do You Think: Is America Exceptional? Foreign Policy Strategies over TimeStrategy 1: Standing Alone (1918-1939)Strategy 2: The Cold War (1945-1991)Strategy 3: The New World Order (1989-2003)Strategy 4: The War on Terror (began 2001)What Do You Think: Terrorists and the Rule of Law APPENDIX I: The Declaration of Independence APPENDIX II: The Constitution of the United States of America APPENDIX III: Federalist Papers 1, 10, and 51